Feeling Crafty

This summer I found the two clocks on the above shelf on two separate occasions. First I found the black face, which says Big Ben, and then for 75 cents at the BB I found the white one which said Little Ben. I think they make a cute pair. Big Ben is a little slow though.
I made two clipboards last night. This one is for Charice to use at school....
and this one is for me. It's a fun way to use your paper when you're not a scrapbooker. Nancy and I saw a nice booth at Art in the Park last weekend and it inspired us both. Shari has made quite a few of these too. You can do a simple one without collage too, just find a fun print you like and that's all you need.
I bought this last week at the Fergus Goodwill. It's nice and big and I like the frame. I might do a big collage and keep it at home or maybe use it at school as a blackboard. I'd just paint right over the picture and there is no glass anyway. You can also purchase cork and make a nice board that way too.
I made this a while ago, but it also shows a nice way to use your scrap paper or even wall paper from the books you can get for nothing. First I painted the frame, found a quote I liked and put it all together. You could incorporate a photo. It would make a very nice gift.

Bear Scat

The bear was in our yard again last night as evidenced by this pile of bear poop....
It was located about 15 feet from our front door. I did a little research and this is exactly what bear scat looks like when they are eating berries. Google it yourself if you are really interested in comparing. Raccoon scat is much smaller and tubular. Aren't you glad you know that? Also, bears rarely stop to chew their food, thus the perfectly formed berries you see. In case you are wondering, it really doesn't smell, not at all compared to dog or cat poop. That ends the science lesson for today!!

Wasted Food

Earlier this summer, I read an article in the Strib about wasted food. According to the story, 50% of all food produced and purchased in the US is thrown away. That is a sad fact and has made me think a little bit more about what I buy. I'm trying harder to use up the food I do have in my fridge and freezer before heading to the grocery store. Not only is food thrown away, but it is not composted and creates methane gas when it's stuck in plastic garbage bags. I finally took time to check out the website Wasted Food. There is a LOT of information there. Take a look and see what you can do to waste less. Every little bit helps. Spread the word.

Monday Stuff

I almost got up at 6:30 with Dan this morning, but then used some good sense and stayed in bed for a couple more hours. Dan left for Mpls and eventually I made my way to my new room in Barrett where I unloaded 21 more boxes. That's a grand total of 59 boxes unpacked. I have about 20 more to go and then I can have some fun decorating the place. My computer was hooked up so I could enjoy some tunes compliments of Pandora. If you haven't tried out that music website, you're missing out.

I went back home and had more of Nancy's leftover salad from last Friday night. (I polished it off this evening-still great, Nancy!) You should send me that recipe to post. Then I headed to Fergus to repair my wedding ring that I damaged carrying heavy pails of rocks. It's shaped like an egg now. Should have brought it last Friday when I was in Fergus with Mom, Nancy and kids but totally forgot it then. Oh well, it gave me an excuse to go back and check out the new shop Boxelder. (See post below) I got a few goodies at Goodwill and hit the new Walgreens too. If you like Fiber One bars, they have a great deal til the end of the month, a box of 10 for $3.99. It's a good breakfast when you're running late for work. I can't be the only one.
Kris, do you remember this adorable apron?! I tried it on when we were shopping around Ottertail. I discovered that Williams and Company has a blog and FB page and spied the apron. If I remember correctly, it was $25, but would be oh so easy to sew and now I even have the picture copy. The combination of prints/colors is very fun. Will I actually do it? Probably not, but you never know.

Recent purchases

I got these Fire King coffee cups at Goodwill for 50 cents each. If you are one of my siblings you will recognize the one in the middle. I've been on the look-out for this cup for a couple of years. I'm giving them to Dad and I think he will like them don't you? Do you think he will use it or continue to use the old one? I've seen them in shops for $4-5, which I have not been willing to pay. They're in mint condition too!
I visited a new shop in Fergus today called Boxelder. It's on the road behind Perkins, way back there. Perhaps a little too far off the beaten path. It was a very nice little store with many hand crafted items and some new with a definite vintage flavor. This book was on the bargain shelf and I had to pick it up because it's about using items found at thrift stores and rummage sales. It looks like a good one-saving it for later.

Nancy & Kids

I really like this picture of Nancy, Sophie & Joey!

They caught a couple little fish and saw a curious turtle.

What a cutie!

Mini Hosta Fairy Garden

Our yard through the screen.

A little fairy house.

Sorry this is backwards, but this is the after photo. I was inspired by a mini hosta garden in Perham and also picked up this pretty deer and fawn the same day. (I love them!!!) Nancy has been talking about fairy gardens and so I thought-why not? The birch is from Royce's back yard-he discourages me from using these as candle wraps as they are extremely flammable. So, it's a fairy house instead-much safer. Now I need a little fairy.

And this is the before. These hostas were transplanted to a nice spot around a pine in the backyard.

Black Bear!!!

Some of you know that I have suspected a bear in our yard for the last few weeks but decided it must be a big old raccoon. WELL....neighbors have actually reported seeing an adult sized black bear walking right through our neighborhood so it IS a bear visiting my feeders. I should stay up late some night to see it on my own-that would be so cool. He's not doing much damage so it's not bothering me.

Yard Shots

This is a geranium that I saved from last year. I saved the roots and stored them in a plastic bag, watered them once and brought them out in the spring. They're doing great-can't believe they made it because they looked dead when I took them out and thought I might as well put them in a pot and see what happens.
I love these baskets that I hang nice and low from the trees.
I took this photo so that I can share our vision with you. Center a patio door where the bay is and one or two tall windows on each side, about 18 inches further down than the current ones. The lumber yard is coming out tomorrow to measure and give us estimates. We're also pricing new gas fireplaces since our old one, which is 10 years old, now shuts off by itself and then erupts with a large boom if you don't shut it off manually first. Kinda scary!
I'm not a big yellow flower person but this was the last begonia in a clearance shed and I had to buy it for $2. I found this cute little tub in my dad's old grainery-way up in the top. I had to climb a little rusty ladder to get it but it was worth it. :) The chickadees and chipmunks like to eat the sunflower seeds from that stone perch. Probably a big raccoon too.

Lettuce & Herbs

Two lovely salads from my own tiny garden.

My garden consists of my lettuce tubs and above them I have basil, rosemary, coriander & parsley. The lettuce is doing well in this cool weather.

Parsley, Basil, Thyme & Curly Parsley

Brrrrr in July?!!

This was our temp at noon today-I couldn't believe it.

This roomy bag is made of vintage fabric, I'd guess 25 years ago and only cost 75 cents at the BB.
This little tea towel came from a rummage sale in Elbow a couple wks ago, $1. So cute!
Kris gave me this shelf and I painted it black. It seemed a shame to put in the basement but that's where it went.
Shadow poses on my new old hooked rug from the BB, $4. It's very soft and the cats love it.

State Plates

Yes, Kris! I would love to come over to see your state plates!! Is Wednesday afternoon good? Shari has a couple of state plates, anyone else have a "collection" of more than one? I probably have 20 and Mn plates are my favorite of course. They are hard for me to resist when they are less than $1 and have a neat design or even just a neighbor state to Mn or a state I have visited. Many are down in the cabin and they work well there. Let me know if you'd like a certain state and I will keep my eye out. I don't expect many takers. :)

Pic's I Like!

I would like a tiny camper like this someday. I think this is a Scotty Highlander-there is an old brown one back in the trees down the road....hmmmm.

Ahhh, summer.

Does anyone really picnic like this?

Well, besides Becky Peterson, that is.

Couldn't resist, Becky. :)

A happy happy porch.

More tiny camping fun!

(This will be Dan and I in the future.)

Beautiful Flowers

This looks like it could be a postcard.

A pretty path to Charice's house!

Charice and Sean have an amazing home and garden. I took pictures of the outside but the inside is as full of color as the outside and gorgeous personal artwork too by family and friends. Above you will see a charming glider that belonged to Charice's grandparents, parents and now is in Charice's yard. I remember sitting in it when it was in her parents' yard back in our college days.

Do you feel like you are in an English country garden? I do!

This flower box was amazing.

A great place to relax, visit and enjoy the garden.

The astilbe was beautiful-a very welcoming front door.

Fourth of July 2009